PRUDENCE HILBURN: Quench summer thirst with lemonade

Published: Tuesday, July 10, 2012 at 6:51 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, July 10, 2012 at 6:53 p.m.

Hot and thirsty? What could be better than a cold glass of lemonade?

A big smile came over my face when my daughter and I recently saw a lemonade stand on the side of the road, with youngsters making and selling this popular drink. It brought back so many good memories.

When I was growing up, it was not uncommon to see several small lemonade stands along the streets during the summertime. In fact, I think I set up a stand or two myself. It was such a welcome treat for all ages, and many enterprising youngsters made their pocket money by selling lemonade for only a few cents per cup.

Lemonade is one of the easiest beverages to make. All you need is freshly-squeezed lemon juice, sugar, and water. Just stir these three ingredients together for a drink that is sure to soothe your thirsty throat.

Another easy way to make it is to start with a lemonade syrup that is kept in the refrigerator until needed. When the thirst for lemonade comes, all you do is add a couple of tablespoons of the syrup to a glass of ice water. This mixes instantly since the sugar already is dissolved in the syrup.

To make lemonade syrup, combine 2 cups of sugar with 1 cup of water in a saucepan. Boil the mixture for about 5 minutes. Cool it and add 1 cup of fresh lemon juice. Store in a covered container in the refrigerator. This recipe makes about 2 1/2 cups of syrup.

Of course, iced "sweet" tea also is a favorite in the South. I will never forget when we had some friends from the North visiting and I was making tea. I noticed that my friend Gloria's eyebrows raised and she had that "I'm not believing this!" look on her face. She asked, "That much sugar?" I don't think her palate ever adapted to the sweetness of the tea even when I suggested adding lemon.

A thought just came to mind — I bet a blend of half tea and half lemonade would be tasty. It would taste more like lemonade with just a hint of tea. Sounds good to me.

While looking through some Gooseberry Patch cookbooks, I noticed another cool summertime drink. The following recipe for Summer Sparkle is from their "101 Homestyle Favorites.” I always can find something exciting in the Gooseberry Patch cookbooks.

If your children or grandchildren decide to set up a lemonade stand, they might want to add Summer Sparkle to their menu.

Prudence Hilburn of Piedmont has won more than 30 national cooking awards and written several cookbooks, including the latest, “Kitchen Keepers.” Write her at prudencehilburn@aol.com or visit www.prudencehilburn.com.

Prudence Hilburn of Piedmont has won more than 30 national cooking awards and written several cookbooks, including the latest, “Kitchen Keepers.” Write her at prudencehilburn@aol.com or visit www.prudencehilburn.com.

Prudence Hilburn of Piedmont has won more than 30 national cooking awards and written several cookbooks, including the latest, “Kitchen Keepers.” Write her at prudencehilburn@aol.com or visit www.prudencehilburn.com.

SOUTHERN SWEET TEA

4 quarts water, divided

2 cups sugar

3 to 4 family size tea bags

Heat 2 quarts of water to boiling. Remove from heat and stir in the sugar until dissolved. Add tea bags. Cover and allow to steep for about 6 to 7 minutes. Remove tea bags. Add remaining water. Serve over ice. Makes 1 gallon.

Prudence Hilburn of Piedmont has won more than 30 national cooking awards and written several cookbooks, including the latest, “Kitchen Keepers.” Write her at prudencehilburn@aol.com or visit www.prudencehilburn.com.

<p>Hot and thirsty? What could be better than a cold glass of lemonade? </p><p>A big smile came over my face when my daughter and I recently saw a lemonade stand on the side of the road, with youngsters making and selling this popular drink. It brought back so many good memories. </p><p>When I was growing up, it was not uncommon to see several small lemonade stands along the streets during the summertime. In fact, I think I set up a stand or two myself. It was such a welcome treat for all ages, and many enterprising youngsters made their pocket money by selling lemonade for only a few cents per cup. </p><p>Lemonade is one of the easiest beverages to make. All you need is freshly-squeezed lemon juice, sugar, and water. Just stir these three ingredients together for a drink that is sure to soothe your thirsty throat. </p><p>Another easy way to make it is to start with a lemonade syrup that is kept in the refrigerator until needed. When the thirst for lemonade comes, all you do is add a couple of tablespoons of the syrup to a glass of ice water. This mixes instantly since the sugar already is dissolved in the syrup.</p><p>To make lemonade syrup, combine 2 cups of sugar with 1 cup of water in a saucepan. Boil the mixture for about 5 minutes. Cool it and add 1 cup of fresh lemon juice. Store in a covered container in the refrigerator. This recipe makes about 2 1/2 cups of syrup.</p><p>Of course, iced "sweet" tea also is a favorite in the South. I will never forget when we had some friends from the North visiting and I was making tea. I noticed that my friend Gloria's eyebrows raised and she had that "I'm not believing this!" look on her face. She asked, "That much sugar?" I don't think her palate ever adapted to the sweetness of the tea even when I suggested adding lemon. </p><p>A thought just came to mind — I bet a blend of half tea and half lemonade would be tasty. It would taste more like lemonade with just a hint of tea. Sounds good to me. </p><p>While looking through some Gooseberry Patch cookbooks, I noticed another cool summertime drink. The following recipe for Summer Sparkle is from their "101 Homestyle Favorites.” I always can find something exciting in the Gooseberry Patch cookbooks. </p><p>If your children or grandchildren decide to set up a lemonade stand, they might want to add Summer Sparkle to their menu.</p>
<p class="italic font120">Prudence Hilburn of Piedmont has won more than 30 national cooking awards and written several cookbooks, including the latest, “Kitchen Keepers.” Write her at prudencehilburn@aol.com or visit www.prudencehilburn.com.</p><h3>SUMMER SPARKLE</h3>
<p>48 oz. bottle ruby red grapefruit juice</p><p>12 oz. can frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed</p><p>6 oz. can frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed</p><p>1 liter bottle lemon-lime soda, chilled</p><p> </p><p>Stir grapefruit juice, orange juice concentrate and lemonade concentrate together in a gallon pitcher; refrigerate until chilled. Stir in soda at serving time. Makes 16 to 20 servings.</p>
<p class="italic font120">Prudence Hilburn of Piedmont has won more than 30 national cooking awards and written several cookbooks, including the latest, “Kitchen Keepers.” Write her at prudencehilburn@aol.com or visit www.prudencehilburn.com.</p><h3>LEMONADE</h3>
<p>3/4 cup fresh lemon juice (about 11 lemons)</p><p>1 1/4 cups sugar</p><p>1 quart water</p><p>Lemon slices</p><p>Ice</p><p>Combine lemon juice, sugar and water. Stir until sugar dissolves. Drop sliced lemons into lemonade. Chill. Add ice when ready to serve. Makes about 1 1/2 quarts.</p>
<p class="italic font120">Prudence Hilburn of Piedmont has won more than 30 national cooking awards and written several cookbooks, including the latest, “Kitchen Keepers.” Write her at prudencehilburn@aol.com or visit www.prudencehilburn.com.</p><h3>SOUTHERN SWEET TEA</h3>
<p>4 quarts water, divided</p><p>2 cups sugar</p><p>3 to 4 family size tea bags</p><p>Heat 2 quarts of water to boiling. Remove from heat and stir in the sugar until dissolved. Add tea bags. Cover and allow to steep for about 6 to 7 minutes. Remove tea bags. Add remaining water. Serve over ice. Makes 1 gallon.</p>
<p class="italic font120">Prudence Hilburn of Piedmont has won more than 30 national cooking awards and written several cookbooks, including the latest, “Kitchen Keepers.” Write her at prudencehilburn@aol.com or visit www.prudencehilburn.com.</p>